I'm a new author, and I'm trying to get a better understanding of how and why people give feedback and ratings. So far, it seems that the more comments I get, the WORSE my scores are for my stories.

My Holiday story has netted some excellent public and private feedback, yet it has the worst score of anything I've done so far. I wonder if maybe that's just a case of poor classification. I posted Peppermint Martini in Erotic Couplings, because, to me, it doesn't really have a romantic set-up.

So, questions for anyone that wants to take the time to answer them.
1. Am I getting dinged for my chosen category?
2a. Am I getting dinged for writing a longer story with no sex until the very end?
2b. Would it have been rated better with the "not a quick fix" disclaimer?
3. Have you noticed people comment more on stories if you bum for comments at the beginning?

I understand that, ultimately, as long as I am happy with my work (which I am), the opinions of others can only be a secondary consideration, but I am trying to improve my craft, and I would love some specific feedback in that regard. And, as I saw another author say at the beginning of a submission, "I'm a whore for comments."

It can be hard to judge just what scores you're getting, I find. The two stories I recently put up have had combinations of 5s, 4s and 1s and 2s. They are what Brits call Marmite! people seem to love them or hate them and in the end I get an average score.
I find the comments more helpful as I assume people might use those to give feedback on how to improve (I do that) although they also do it to encourage you to write some more if they like your stuff.
Did you use a volunteer editor? I did try to for my first one but she never replied to my request for advice although I'm sure most volunteer editors are much more supportive. I couldn't be bothered to wait around and find a new one so I just shoved my story up and it did well so I've never done it since. but if you're looking for an objective assessment, I would do that.
xxx

The good news is that once the submission period ends, you'll begin to see sweeps -- a script that removes votes considered illigitimate. Almost every story in the contest makes a fair-sized score leap once all the sweeps have run.

Contest stories also tend to draw more comments, on average.

Multi-chapter stories also tend to go up in score while going down in votes and views as they progress. Those who don't like the story tend to drop off, leaving behind only those who are enjoying it and likely to vote high.

Trying to compare a multi-chapter to a one shot just isn't going to work. They're two different animals. Comparing to an unswept contest story makes it even more of a fool's errand.

You're better off requesting votes and comments at the end of the story, because the voting form and the comment section are right there.

I count myself very lucky to have a wonderful and supportive volunteer editor that I found right here on Lit. Aside from the first story, which I posted without an editor in a trigger-happy moment, I haven't gotten any negative feedback really.

And I agree with the love it or hate it issue. Oh well, can't please them all. Maybe we should propose to the admins that you can't score a story a 1 without providing feedback.

I count myself very lucky to have a wonderful and supportive volunteer editor that I found right here on Lit. Aside from the first story, which I posted without an editor in a trigger-happy moment, I haven't gotten any negative feedback really.

And I agree with the love it or hate it issue. Oh well, can't please them all. Maybe we should propose to the admins that you can't score a story a 1 without providing feedback.

It would be helpful to have a breakdown of the votes so you know you got some 5s, not just a string of 3s! However, according to a post further down this is still the best site for getting any feedback at all on your writing.

I publish on Smashwords too and it's like getting blood out of a vampire to get any feedback there!

Your scores at stratospheric! You are not getting dinged. It is ridiculous to expect unbroken strings of 5.00 stories. Heck, some people don't like Mona Lisa. A 4.75 score means than for every 3 people voting you a 5, and 1 votes you a 4. That is truly awesome. My highest rated story is rated lower than you your second lowest story.

One thing I've noticed is that my scores track pretty closely with the amount of sex in the stories. Doing romance, sex isn't the main focus and sometimes I don't spend a lot of time on it. More sex=higher scores.

The good news is that once the submission period ends, you'll begin to see sweeps -- a script that removes votes considered illigitimate. Almost every story in the contest makes a fair-sized score leap once all the sweeps have run.

You were completely right! I thought there was some odd voting going on with my story but I decided to wait patiently till the competition was over. There have indeed been some scores cleaned off it with adjustment of my rating.
Thanks for that, it was very reassuring.

You were completely right! I thought there was some odd voting going on with my story but I decided to wait patiently till the competition was over. There have indeed been some scores cleaned off it with adjustment of my rating.
Thanks for that, it was very reassuring.

Don't rest on your laurels just yet. If you have a personal troll who's doing any dinging, they may very well come right back and try again. Of course, it will probably just get swept again, but some are stupid and persistant enough to keep trying

Not to mention that the final day or two of voting is prime time for people to come out and start trying to change the outcome by down-voting all the competition to their favorite.

Again, they'll probably just get swept.

This is why we call the contests the "roller coaster"

Until the final sweep is run and the winners are announced, your score will probably be all over the place.

I've noticed a few sweeps, but so far they've had minimal impact. I finally cleared 4.6, but I'm still sad that my Holiday entry is my lowest ranked story. Oh well. Does Lit usually do an April Fools contest? I have a story in mind that would be perfect for that.

I've noticed a few sweeps, but so far they've had minimal impact. I finally cleared 4.6, but I'm still sad that my Holiday entry is my lowest ranked story. Oh well. Does Lit usually do an April Fools contest? I have a story in mind that would be perfect for that.

Nope, the April contest is Earth Day.

Or, it always has been. Won't know for sure until Laurel posts the contest schedule for 2013.

Oh I'm sorry datedsoul that this is your lowest score - although still lots better than mine you swine! but I'm also relieved because I got some nice feedback on my story and was disappointed to get so few votes. Now I can fondly imagine that's just a competition story thing.
I think the story voting is over so hopefully there won't be anyone trying to come in and undermine my scores any more? I don't think I have anyone who personally wants to take out all my stuff. There was some odd voting on my non-competition story but I assumed that was because it was Gay Male and the girls who like boys liked it but the boys who like boys thought it was fluffy slippers and silly girly stuff (although I hurriedly assure anyone who wants to read it that I had it test driven by gay guys and it's full of swinging schlongs! with no bunny slippers in sight).